Former Samoa & USA international rugby league footballer
Vila Matautia Full name Vila Matautia Born (1969-08-31 ) 31 August 1969 (age 55) Samoa Position Prop
Club
Years
Team
Pld
T
G
FG
P
1990–95
Doncaster
83
34
0
2
138
1995–01
St. Helens
145
24
0
0
96
2002
Leigh Centurions
25
2
0
0
8
Total
253
60
0
2
242
Representative
Years
Team
Pld
T
G
FG
P
1995
Samoa
2
3
0
0
12
2000
USA
As of 10 Sep 2020
Vila Matautia is a Samoan former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s.[ 1] [ 2] He was a Samoan international and played at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup . He also played with St Helens in the Super League , having championship and Challenge Cup Final success with them.
Background
Matautia was born in Samoa .
Club career
Matautia started his career at Doncaster in 1990.[ 3]
Matautia played for St Helens from the interchange bench in their 1996 Challenge Cup Final victory over Bradford Bulls .[ 4]
Matautia played for St. Helens from the interchange bench in their 1999 Super League Grand Final victory over Bradford Bulls .
Matautia appeared as a substitute (replacing Prop Ian Pickavance on 25-minutes) in St. Helens ' 16-25 defeat by Wigan in the 1995–96 Regal Trophy Final during the 1995–96 at Alfred McAlpine Stadium , Huddersfield on Saturday 13 January 1996.[ 5] As Super League V champions, St. Helens played against 2000 NRL Premiers, the Brisbane Broncos in the 2001 World Club Challenge . Matautia played from the interchange bench in Saints' victory.
Matautia left Saints and joined Leigh Centurions in 2002.[ 6]
Representative career
Matautia represented Samoa , and played at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup . He also played for the United States rugby league team, trying to get them into the 2000 Rugby League World Cup through his grandmother who was born in Hawaii.[ 7]
Assault conviction
In December 2017, he assaulted a 15-year-old Rainford High Technology College pupil, inflicting a broken nose, fractured cheek bone and severe bruising. In July 2018, he pleaded guilty and received a seven-month sentence, suspended for 18 months.[ 8] [ 9]
References
External links